Severe Storms and Tornado Damage June 5-6, 2008

Another round of stormy weather hit Minnesota on June 5 and 6. A very strong area of low pressure moved rapidly northward from Nebraska into South Dakota on June 5. Thunderstorms developed rapidly through the day across the upper midwest. By The early afternoon on the 5th, the storms had reached the Twin Cities. There were reports of some large hail, including some of the same places that saw large hail in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities during the severe weather event of May 31.

June 5 Severe Weather

For the first time this season, 70 degree dew point temperature air surged into southern Minnesota. With plenty of moisture around, this weather system was an efficient rain-maker and many places in Minnesota saw from a half inch to two inches of rain. A few spots picked up more, most notably in Wilkin County, and along the north shore of Lake Superior. The highest rainfall total found was at the Grand Marais Airport with 4.96 inches. Nearby a Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District rain gauge volunteer reported 4.94 inches. The Twin Cities International Airport had 1.25 inches of rain, but the rain fell hard enough to cause some minor street flooding in Minneapolis.

There was more significant flooding along the north shore where officials in Cook County reported widespread flooding and washed out county roadways. Flooding was also reported along Highway 61, where travel was restricted to one lane in Lutsen.

June 6 Severe Weather

By the morning of Friday June 6, the low pressure center was over eastern North Dakota. In the unstable air mass that remained, thunderstorms developed shortly after sunrise to the southeast of the center of the low pressure. These storms quickly intensified and a tornado was reported in Menahga in Wadena County at 9:25am. This tornadic thunderstorm then moved swiftly to the northeast and a tornado caused extensive roof damage on the east side of Park rapids by 9:35am. A half-mile wide path of destruction was reported from Park Rapids northward. By 9:48am several houses were reported to be destroyed in the tiny town of Emmaville, about 10 miles northeast of Park Rapids.

See the report for the June 5-6, 2008 severe weather event by the National Weather Service in Chanhassen.
Listed below are Local Storm Reports from the National Weather Service.